Anti-microbial solution for seeds, crops, livestock and processed foods

ABSTRACT

An anti-microbial formulation for seed and crop application is a formulation including only between about 1 ppm and about 100 ppm hypochlorous acid; between about 1 ppm and about 300 ppm alkyl polyglycoside, wherein sufficient amount of alkyl polyglycoside is present such that the formulation has a pH between about 5.2 and about 7.8; and a remainder water. A method of manipulating the pH of the formulation and a method of treating seeds and crops with the formulation to restrict or eliminate microbial growth and proliferation is also described herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an anti-microbial solution forapplication to seeds, crops, livestock and processed foods.

Description of the Related Art

Crop production can be negatively impacted by plant diseases. During thegrowing season and throughout a plant's growth cycle, plants may beattacked by a number of microorganisms, including fungi, fungal-likeorganisms, bacteria, viruses etc. These diseases can cause significantdamage to plants, reducing both the yield and quality of theagricultural commodities.

Plant pathogens are common on seed of virtually all crops. Theseseedborne pathogens may be internal, infecting plants through flower orfruits, or on the seed surface. External contamination on the surface ofseed is common whereby plant pathogens produce a wide range of survivalstructures (for example spores, oospores, chlamydospores etc.) thatstick to the surface of seed or plant during its growth, harvesting,processing and packaging. The infestation or infection of a seed reducesthe quantity and quality of the gemination rate of the seed, thusdecreasing the number of seedlings that survive. Infected or diseasedseeds transfer the pathogens that they carry not only to the soil but tothe other plants that are in their proximity, thereby initiatingepidemics.

Seeds can be cleaned of plant pathogens by several physical and/orchemical approaches. Hot water treatment can be an effective method toreduce or eliminate some seedborne plant pathogens. However, thetemperature and duration of the hot water treatments varies fordifferent crops and it is difficult to standardize the approach so thatthe seed itself is not damaged. The efficacy and impact on seedgermination rates of hot water treatment are questionable. Somefungicide treatments may be effective for certain pathogens but notothers. However, the cost of fungicide, labor, and environmental impactsare a major concern. Moreover, synthetic fungicides cannot be used onany organic crop production. Sodium hypochlorite (bleach) may beeffective for controlling a wide-spectrum of plant pathogens. However,only a low percentage of bleach (1.2%) may be used use on seed beinggrown for organic production. But the efficacy and phytotoxicity of evenlow concentrations of bleach limit the potential use.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

In one embodiment, the present invention is a formulation that can beused to treat crops from the seed stage through the growth cycle toconsumption. The formulation kills or impedes the growth of microbes,including pathogens, germs, viruses, molds, mildews, fungi, and sporeson contact on the surface of the seeds.

In another embodiment, the present invention is a method of manipulatingthe pH of the formulation.

In still another embodiment, the present invention is a method oftreating seeds and crops to restrict or eliminate microbial growth andproliferation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitutepart of this specification, illustrate the presently preferredembodiments of the invention, and, together with the general descriptiongiven above and the detailed description given below, serve to explainthe features of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1A is a photo showing a significant growth of bacteria on carrotseeds present in water;

FIG. 1B is a photo showing some bacteria on carrot seeds in 1.2% bleach;

FIG. 1C is a photo showing no bacteria on carrot seeds in the 50%formulation;

FIG. 1D is a phorot showing a significant growth of bacteria on Swisschard seeds in water (FIG. 1D);

FIG. 1E is a photo showing some bacteria Swiss chard seeds in 1.2%bleach;

FIG. 1F is a photo showing no bacteria on Swiss chard seeds in the 50%formulation;

FIG. 2A is a photo showing three days after the carrot seeds from FIG.1A placed on LB plates, bacteria were found from each carrot seed washedwith water;

FIG. 2B is a photo showing bacteria found on about 50% of the carrotseed from FIG. 1B washed with 1.2% bleach;

FIG. 2C is a photo showing bacteria found on only a few carrot seedsfrom FIG. 1C washed with the formulation;

FIG. 2D is a photo showing bacteria found from all Swiss chard seed fromFIG. 1D washed with water;

FIG. 2E is a photo showing bacteria found on about 50% Swiss chard seedfrom FIG. 1E treated with 1.2% bleach;

FIG. 2F is a photo showin bacteria found on only a few seeds treatedwith the formulation;

FIG. 2G is a photo showing spinach seed washed with water, with bacteriafound from almost every single seed;

FIG. 2H is a photo showing both fungal and bacterial microbes found onspinach seeds treated with 1.2% bleach;

FIG. 2I is a photo showing bacteria found from several seeds treatedwith the formulation;

FIG. 3A is a photo showing untreated oospores that cannot be stained byTrypan blue);

FIG. 3B is a photo showing other untreated oospores that cannot bestained by Trypan blue);

FIG. 3C is a photo showing other untreated oospores that cannot bestained by Trypan blue);

FIG. 3D is a photo showing other untreated oospores that cannot bestained by Trypan blue);

FIG. 3E is a photo showing dead oospores (killed by autoclave) that canbe stained;

FIG. 3F is a photo showing other dead oospores (killed by autoclave)that can be stained;

FIG. 3G is a photo showing other dead oospores (killed by autoclave)that can be stained;

FIG. 3H is a photo showing other dead oospores (killed by autoclave)that can be stained;

FIG. 3I is a photo showing oospores treated with the formulation thatwere also stained, indicating that these oospores were also killed bythe formulation;

FIG. 3J is a photo showing other oospores treated with the formulationthat were also stained, indicating that these oospores were also killedby the formulation;

FIG. 3K is a photo showing other oospores treated with the formulationthat were also stained, indicating that these oospores were also killedby the formulation;

FIG. 3L is a photo showing other oospores treated with the formulationthat were also stained, indicating that these oospores were also killedby the formulation;

FIG. 4A is a photo showing rice cultivar Francis sprayed daily with theformulation since the inoculation day (0 dpi);

FIG. 4B is a photo showing rice cultivar Francis sprayed with theformulation daily since 1 dpi;

FIG. 4C is a photo showing rice cultivar Francis sprayed with theformulation daily since 2 dpi;

FIG. 4D is a photo showing rice cultivar Francis sprayed with theformulation daily since 3 dpi;

FIG. 4E is a photo showing rice plants where the inoculation plugs ofRhizoctonia solani were placed, with not much pathogen found growing andinfecting the plants that were sprayed since the first day ofinoculation;

FIG. 4F is a photo showing severe disease found from the plants thatwere sprayed only on 6 dpi;

FIG. 5A is a photo showing significant amount of bacteria found from thewater used to soak spinach leaves and lemons;

FIG. 5B is a photo showing no bacteria found alive from the water addedformulation;

FIG. 5C is a photo showing bacteria from the juice squeezed out ofcontaminated lemon slides;

FIG. 5D is a photo showing no bacteria found alive from the juicesqueezed out of the lemon slides treated with the formulation;

FIG. 5E is a photo showing bacteria found from artificially contaminatedspinach leaves, even after washed with tap water; and

FIG. 5F is a photo showing bacteria found from the spinach leavestreated with the formulation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to betaken as a limitation on the present invention. The terminology includesthe words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words ofsimilar import. The embodiments illustrated below are not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed.These embodiments are chosen and described to best explain the principleof the invention and its application and practical use and to enableothers skilled in the art to best utilize the invention.

Reference herein to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that aparticular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connectionwith the embodiment can be included in at least one embodiment of theinvention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in variousplaces in the specification are not necessarily all referring to thesame embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments necessarilymutually exclusive of other embodiments. The same applies to the term“implementation.”

As used in this application, the word “exemplary” is used herein to meanserving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any aspect or designdescribed herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed aspreferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs. Rather, use ofthe word exemplary is intended to present concepts in a concretefashion.

Additionally, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” ratherthan an exclusive “or”. That is, unless specified otherwise, or clearfrom context, “X employs A or B” is intended to mean any of the naturalinclusive permutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; or Xemploys both A and B, then “X employs A or B” is satisfied under any ofthe foregoing instances. In addition, the articles “a” and “an” as usedin this application and the appended claims should generally beconstrued to mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear fromcontext to be directed to a singular form.

Unless explicitly stated otherwise, each numerical value and rangeshould be interpreted as being approximate as if the word “about” or“approximately” preceded the value of the value or range.

It should be understood that the steps of the exemplary methods setforth herein are not necessarily required to be performed in the orderdescribed, and the order of the steps of such methods should beunderstood to be merely exemplary. Likewise, additional steps may beincluded in such methods, and certain steps may be omitted or combined,in methods consistent with various embodiments of the present invention.

A formulation in the form of a liquid fungicidal sporicidalantimicrobial solution according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention can be used as a surface sanitizer, a wash, or atreatment for crop seeds to kill or reduce the growth of microbes,including pathogens, germs, viruses, molds, mildews, fungi, and sporeson contact on the surface of the seeds. The crops can be vegetables,fruits, herbs, or other naturally growing organism that is harvested forhuman or animal use or consumption.

The formulation is a safe product which has no known adverse effect onhumans or environment. Thus, the formulation can be widely used as aseed treatment on seed for agricultural production, including seed fororganic production. The formulation can kill a wide range of microbialplant pathogens. Experimental results indicated that the formulation canbe used to surface-sterilize seed, killing spores and oospores of theplant pathogens on the external surface of seed. Spraying theformulation on plants can dramatically reduce the level of pathogens andinfection in the field and thus, control or minimize disease. Theformulation can be added to irrigation water, and thus may reduce thepopulations of soilborne pathogens. Washing agricultural products suchas vegetables, fruits, livestock and processed foods with theformulation can reduce the level of common bacteria such as E. coli orSalmonella, commonly associated with food safety concerns.

The formulation kills or reduces the toxicity of pathogens.Additionally, the solution can be used to kill bacteria on a non-organicsurface, in the air, and in water. The formulation halts a microbe'sability to replicate by attacking and de-naturing microbial DNA.

Additionally, the formulation can be applied as a spot treatment oncrops and/or applied to the soil in which the seeds are planted.Further, the formulation can be applied to the interior surfaces ofpipes and other fluid systems that are used to irrigate or otherwisedeliver water or other fluids to crops.

In an exemplary embodiment, for seed treatment with the formulation, theformulation can be added at a rate of ⅓ liter of the formulation forevery ton of seeds. This ratio can vary, however, due to the type ofseed cleaning system that is used, along with local temperature, whichcan have an effect on drying times. Further, the formulation can beapplied in an irrigation system ad a ratio of about 0.5% to about 1.5%by weight of the irrigation fluid. The formulation can also be usedduring the washing/cleaning of cut crops, typically dosed in baths, at arate of between about 1% and about 3% by weight of the cleaning fluid,depending on the quality of the fluid, such as hard/soft water, amountof particulates in the water, and other factors.

In an exemplary embodiment, the formulation is a solution having a pH ofabout 7.0 and has the following formula:

-   -   Hypochlorous acid—about 170 parts per million (“ppm”)    -   Hypochlorite ion—about 25 ppm    -   Ozone—about 2.5 ppm    -   Chlorine dioxide—about 2.5 ppm    -   Alkyl polyglycoside—about 300 ppm    -   Water—remainder

The alkyl polyglycoside acts to break down the molecular structure ofthe solution so that the solution attaches to, rather than merely layson, a crop leaf, seed, or other surface on which the solution isapplied. As a result, larger crop coverage is provided with lesssolution than if alkyl polyglycoside was not used.

Optionally, in one embodiment, the water can be electrolyzed water. Theelectrolyzed water (EO) is generated by passing an electrical currentthrough a dilute salt water solution. One byproduct of the reaction issodium hydroxide (NaOH) and another by product is hypochlorous acid,which as a low pH, contains active chlorine, and has a strongoxidation-reduction potential similar to ozone. The inventors havediscovered that using EO water resulted in surface microbial counts 1log lower than when an iodophor sanitizer was used.

In order for the formulation to be classified as an “organic” solution,it is desired that there be less than 1.2% by weight bleach in theformulation. In an exemplary embodiment, the formulation has no (0%)bleach. Ozone is used instead of bleach because ozone has more cleaningpower than bleach. Ozone can act up to 2,000 faster than bleach and ismore effective than bleach.

The formulation can be applied throughout any temperature range betweenfreezing and boiling, although an exemplary temperature range matching aparticular crop or livestock's growth needs can be used

The solution can be separated into an acidic portion (containing thehypochlorous acid) and an alkaline portion (containing the alkylpolyglycoside). The solution can be passed through a cell or membranethat separates the acidic portion from the alkaline portion and storesthe acidic portion in the first location and stores the alkaline portionin a second location.

To form a final formulation having a desired pH, at least some of thealkaline portion is recombined with the acidic portion at a desiredtitration level to produce a desired pH. The desired pH is determinedprior to recombining the alkaline portion with the acidic portion sothat a predetermined amount of the alkaline portion is recombined withthe acidic portion. The alkyl polyglycoside in the recombined solutioncan be varied between about 10 and about 100,000 ppm such that, when theamount of alkyl polyglycoside is closer to 10 ppm, then the solutionbecomes acidic. When the amount of alkyl polyglycoside is closer to100,000 ppm, then the solution becomes alkaline.

In an exemplary embodiment, the solution has a pH of between about 6.0and about 7.0. Those skilled in the art, however, will recognize thatthe pH of the solution can be adjusted such as, for example, by alteringthe amount of alkyl polyglycoside so that the pH can be adjusted betweenabout 2.0 and about 12.0. For example, if an acidic solution is requiredto suit particular seeds and/or soil conditions, the pH can be reducedtoward 2.0.

By way of example, the following crops are acid soil crops and prefer apH of 4 to 5.5:

-   -   Blackberry (5.0-6.0)    -   Blueberry (4.5-5.0)    -   Cranberry (4.0-5.5)    -   Parsley (5.0-7.0)    -   Peanut (5.0-7.5)    -   Potato (4.5-6.0)    -   Raspberry (5.5-6.5)    -   Sweet potato (5.5-6.0)

By way of example, the following crops are somewhat acid soil crops andprefer a somewhat acid soil, having a pH of 5.5 to 6.5:

-   -   Apple (5.0-6.5)    -   Basil (5.5-6.5)    -   Carrot (5.5-7.0)    -   Cauliflower (5.5-7.5)    -   Chervil (6.0-6.7)    -   Corn (5.5-7.5.)    -   Cucumber (5.5-7.0)    -   Dill (5.5-6.5)    -   Eggplant (5.5-6.5)    -   Garlic (5.5-7.5)    -   Melon (5.5-6.5)    -   Parsley (5.0-7.0)    -   Pepper (5.5-7.0)    -   Pumpkin (6.0-6.5)    -   Radicchio (6.0-6.7)    -   Radish (6.0-7.0)    -   Rhubarb (5.5-7.0)    -   Sorrel (5.5-6.0)    -   Squash, winter (5.5-7.0)    -   Sweet potato (5.5-6.0)    -   Tomato (5.5-7.5)    -   Turnip (5.5-7.0)

By way of example, the following crops are moderately alkaline soilplants and will tolerate a pH of 6.0 to 7.0 or greater:

-   -   Artichoke (6.5-7.5)    -   Arugula (6.5-7.5)    -   Asparagus (6.0-8.0)    -   Bean, pole (6.0-7.5)    -   Bean, lima (6.0-7.0)    -   Beet (6.0-7.5)    -   Broccoli (6.0-7.0)    -   Broccoli rabe (6.5-7.5)    -   Brussels sprouts (6.0-7.5)    -   Cabbage (6.0-7.5)    -   Cantaloupe (6.0-7.5)    -   Cauliflower (6.0-7.5)    -   Celery (6.0-7.0)    -   Chinese cabbage (6.0-7.5)    -   Celeriac (6.0-7.0)    -   Celery (6.0-7.0)    -   Chinese cabbage (6.0-7.5)    -   Chive (6.0-7.0)    -   Cilantro (6.0-6.7)    -   Claytonia (6.5-7.0)    -   Collard (6.5-7.5)    -   Cress (6.0-7.0)    -   Endive/escarole (6.0-7.0)    -   Fennel (6.0-6.7)    -   Gourd (6.5-7.5)    -   Horseradish (6.0-7.0)    -   Jerusalem Artichoke/Sunchoke (6.7-7.0)    -   Kale (6.0-7.5)    -   Kohlrabi (6.0-7.5)    -   Leek (6.0-8.0)    -   Lettuce (6.0-7.0)    -   Marjoram (6.0-8.0)    -   Mizuna (6.5-7.0)    -   Mustard (6.0-7.5)    -   Okra (6.0-7.5)    -   Onion (6.0-7.0)    -   Oregano (6.0-7.0)    -   Pak choi (6.5-7.0)    -   Parsnip (5.5-7.5)    -   Pea (6.0-7.5)    -   Radicchio (6.0-6.7)    -   Radish (6.0-7.0)    -   Rhubarb (6.5-7.0)    -   Sage (6.0-6.7)    -   Salsify (6.0-7.5)    -   Spinach (6.0-7.5)    -   Squash, summer (6.0-7.0)    -   Sunflower (6.0-7.5)    -   Sunflower (6.0-7.5)    -   Swiss chard (6.0-7.5)    -   Tarragon (6.0-7.5)    -   Tomatillo (6.7-7.3)    -   Watermelon (6.0-7.0)

By way of example, the following crops are very acid to alkaline soiltolerant plants. These crops have the greatest tolerance for a widerange of soil acidity or alkalinity, from about 5.0 to 7.0:

-   -   Alpine strawberry (5.0-7.5)    -   Carrot (5.5-7.0)    -   Cauliflower (5.5-7.5)    -   Corn (5.5-7.5)    -   Cucumber (5.5-7.0)    -   Dill (5.5-6.7)    -   Endive/Escarole (5.8-7.0)    -   Garlic (5.5-7.5)    -   Parsley (5.0-7.0)    -   Parsnip (5.5-7.5)    -   Peanut (5.0-6.5)    -   Pepper (5.5-7.0)    -   Rutabaga (5.5-7.0)    -   Squash, winter (5.5-7.0)    -   Tomato (5.5-7.5)    -   Turnip (5.5-7.0)

The formulation can also be used on other edible and non-edible crops,such as livestock, processed foods, tobacco, and marijuana. Theformulation can be used to wash various crops at the end of their growthcycle including before and during packaging, thereby eliminatingbacteria and pathogens such as E. coli, Salmonella and other dangerouscontaminants associated with food safety and consumption.

EXPERIMENT 1—CLEANING VEGETABLE SEED

Carrot, Swiss chard, and spinach seeds (1 kg, 5 kg, and 5 kgrespectively) were placed into separate Petri dishes. From each of theseseeds, 9 samples were taken, each sample weighing 50 grams. Deionizedwater, 1.2% bleach, and 50% of the formulation were used to treat threesamples of each vegetable for five minutes. The liquid of carrot andSwiss chard treatments were streaked on LB media plates, and kept in a37 degrees Celsius incubator overnight, and inspected for bacterialgrowth on the following day. The treated seed were dried in 40 C ovenfor three days, and some seeds were placed on LB or PDA plates.

After carrot seeds were washed, a significant growth of bacteria waspresent in water (FIG. 1A), some bacteria in 1.2% bleach (FIG. 1B), butno bacteria in the 50% formulation (FIG. 1C). After Swiss chard seedswere washed, there were also a significant growth of bacteria in water(FIG. 1D), some bacteria in the 1.2% bleach (FIG. 1E), but no bacteriain the 50% formulation (FIG. 1F).

Three days after the carrot seeds placed on LB plates, bacteria werefound from each carrot seed washed with water (FIG. 2A), about 50% ofthe carrot seed washed with 1.2% bleach (FIG. 2B), and only a few carrotseed washed with the formulation (FIG. 2C). Fugal mycelium was growingout from some carrot seeds. These carrot seeds may be interiorlyinfected by a fungal pathogen too.

Similar results were also obtained for Swiss chard washing experiment.Bacteria were found from all Swiss chard seed washed with water (FIG.2D), about 50% Swiss chard seed treated with 1.2% bleach (FIG. 2E), anda few seeds treated with the formulation (FIG. 2F).

From the spinach seed washed with water, mainly bacteria were found fromalmost every single seed (FIG. 2G). However, both fungal and bacterialmicrobes were found from the seed treated with 1.2% bleach (FIG. 2H).Bacteria were also found from several seeds treated with the formulation(FIG. 2I). Interestingly, the germination rate of the formulationtreatment was higher than that of the bleach and water treatment.

EXPERIMENT 2—TREATING OOSPORES OF PERONOSPORA EFFUSA WITH THEFORMULATION

Oospores were collected from spinach plants, some of them wereautoclaved, some were treated with the formulation overnight, and thenall were stained with Trypan blue for 5 minutes. The untreated oosporescannot be stained by Trypan blue (FIGS. 3A-3D), but the dead oospores(killed by autoclave) can be stained (FIGS. 3E-3H). Oospores treatedwith the formulation were also stained, indicating that these oosporeswere also killed by the formulation (FIGS. 3I-3L).

EXPERIMENT 3—USING THE FORMULATION TO CONTROL RICE BLAST AND SHEATHBLIGHT DISEASES

Rice cultivar Francis was planted in 36 small pots. Three-week oldplants were inoculated with Magnaporthe oryzae isolate 49D, orRhizoctonia solani isolate VC11 (18 pots for each disease). For eachdisease inoculation, two pots were sprayed daily with the formulationsince the inoculation day (0 dpi) (FIG. 4A), two pots were sprayed withthe formulation daily since 1 dpi (FIG. 4B), two pots were sprayed withthe formulation daily since 2 dpi (FIG. 4C), two pots were sprayed withthe formulation daily since 3 dpi (FIG. 4D), and so on till the 2 potswere sprayed on 6 dpi. On the 7 dpi, disease reactions of rice plants tothe two diseases were scored separately.

The rice plants sprayed with the formulation daily since the day ofinoculation did not have any lesion of rice blast. The rice plantssprayed with the formulation daily since 1 dpi had some tiny lesions,but these lesions stopped expansion. Typical blast lesions were found onplants sprayed daily with the formulation after 2 dpi.

After spraying the formulation daily to the base of rice plants wherethe inoculation plugs of Rhizoctonia solani were placed, not muchpathogen was found growing and infecting the plants that were sprayedsince the first day of inoculation (FIG. 4E). Severe disease was foundfrom the plants that were sprayed only on 6 dpi (FIG. 4F). Disease werealso found from other plants with different spraying regime.

EXPERIMENT 4—FORMULATION FOOD SAFETY TEST

Procedures

Grow E. coli strain JM109 in LB broth media at 37 C overnight.

At 10 ml culture to 990 ml dH2O for each of two containers. Spinach andlemon slices were soaked in each of the two containers for 24 h.

Add 100 ml of the formulation to one of the containers for 30 min.

Wash spinach and lemon slides with tap water.

Streak the soak water, squeeze lemon juice, or plate spinach leaves onLB agar plate. Incubate the plates at 37 C overnight.

Results

A significant amount of bacteria were found from the water used to soakspinach leaves and lemons (as expected) (FIG. 5A). But no bacteria werefound alive from the water added formulation (FIG. 5B).

Bacteria cannot be washed off lemon slides. Many bacteria were from thejuice squeezed out of the contaminated lemon slides (FIG. 5C). But nobacteria were found alive from the juice squeezed out of the lemonslides treated with the formulation (FIG. 5D).

Bacteria were found from the artificially contaminated spinach leaves,even after washed with tap water (FIG. 5E). Bacteria were also foundfrom the spinach leaves treated with the formulation. The formulationtreated leaves were washed and placed on the LB plates right after thecontaminated sample were processed (FIG. 5F). It is possible that therewas cross contamination. But it may be resulted from interiorcontamination although it is very unlikely.

It will be further understood that various changes in the details,materials, and arrangements of the parts which have been described andillustrated in order to explain the nature of this invention may be madeby those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of theinvention as expressed in the following claims.

What I claim is:
 1. An anti-microbial formulation for seed and cropapplication consisting of: a formulation consisting of: between about 1ppm and about 170 ppm hypochlorous acid; between about 10 ppm and about100,000 ppm alkyl polyglycoside, wherein sufficient amount of alkylpolyglycoside is present such that the formulation has a pH betweenabout 2 and about 12; and a remainder water.
 2. The anti-microbialformulation according to claim 1, wherein the alkyl polyglycosidecomprise an alkyl group.
 3. The anti-microbial formulation according toclaim 1, wherein sufficient amount of alkyl polyglycoside is presentsuch that the formulation has a pH between about 6.0 and about 6.5. 4.The anti-microbial formulation according to claim 1, wherein the watercomprises electrolyzed water.
 5. The anti-microbial formulationaccording to claim 1, wherein the formulation is separable from acombined state into an alkaline portion and an acidic portion andsubsequently recombinable into the combined state.
 6. The anti-microbialformulation according to claim 5, wherein at least a portion of thealkaline portion is recombinable with the acidic portion.
 7. Theanti-microbial formulation according to claim 1, wherein the formulationis applicable to seeds and crops.
 8. The anti-microbial formulationaccording to claim 1, wherein the formulation kills or reduces thegrowth of pathogens, germs, viruses, molds, mildews, fungi, and sporeson contact on the surface of seeds or crops.
 9. The anti-microbialformulation according to claim 1, wherein the formulation halts amicrobe's ability to replicate by attacking and de-naturing microbialDNA.
 10. A system consisting of: a formulation consisting of: about 170ppm hypochlorous acid; and between about 10 ppm and about 100,000 ppmalkyl polyglycoside, wherein sufficient amount of alkyl polyglycoside ispresent such that the formulation has a pH between about 3 and about 9.11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the formulation kills orreduces the growth of pathogens, germs, viruses, molds, mildews, fungi,and spores on contact on the surface of seeds.
 12. The system accordingto claim 10, wherein the formulation halts a microbe's ability toreplicate by attacking and de-naturing microbial DNA.
 13. Theanti-microbial formulation according to claim 10, wherein sufficientamount of alkyl polyglycoside is present such that the formulation has apH between about 6.0 and about 6.5.
 14. A system consisting of: aformulation comprising: about 170 parts hypochlorous acid; between about10 parts and about 100,000 parts alkyl polyglycoside; and a remainder ofwater, wherein sufficient amount of alkyl polyglycoside is present suchthat the formulation has a pH between about 2 and about
 12. 15. Thesystem according to claim 14, wherein the formulation kills or reducesthe growth of pathogens, germs, viruses, molds, mildews, fungi, andspores on contact on the surface of seeds.
 16. The system according toclaim 15, wherein the formulation halts a microbe's ability to replicateby attacking and de-naturing microbial DNA.
 17. The anti-microbialformulation according to claim 14, wherein sufficient amount of alkylpolyglycoside is present such that the formulation has a pH betweenabout 6.0 and about 6.5.